Flexible drive-shaft.



J. 0. HOBBS.

FLEXIBLE DRIVE SHAFT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE a0. 1911- RENEWED JAN. 2, 19:7.

Patented J uly 10, 1917. I

LQSQQQQQ WANT li llOE.

FLEXIBLE DRIVE-SHAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1917.

Application filed. June 30, 1911, Serial no. 636,196. Renewed January 2, 1917. Serial No. 140,303.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN O. Hones, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county ofOook and State of Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Flexible Drive-Shafts, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved device for transmitting power yieldi-ngly by means of a rotatingshaft. Another object of my in vention is to provide a superior mechanical construction: for a flexible power-transmitting device. Still another object of my in vention. is to provide a power-transmitting device adapted. to yield increasingly against increasing torque up to a certain limit. Other objects of my invention: relate to the construction and moderof assembling the apparatus and the uses thereof, which: will all become apparent on consideration of a specific embodiment of my invention described in this specification.

Referring 'to the -dr-awings Figure 1 is an elevation, partly inisection, showing my improved flexible power-transmitting device.

Fig, 2 is. a crosssection onithe line 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the directionof the arrow. Fig.- 3 is .asection approximately on the line 34 ofFigal, looking in the direction of the arrow adjacentto the numera-lB; and

Fig. at is asectiononthe same line, looking in theopposite direction-that 1s, look- 1ng in the direction 2015 the arrow adjacent to r the numeral 4:.

The two shafts-15 and .16 are in alinement,

with their adjacenhends at-19.; The-shaft 15 carries-a1 member 17 for a universal oint at one end, and the shaft-16 carries a member 18 for a socket connection. In the particular embodiment shown in the drawings the universal .jointof'which the yoke. 17 is an element, maybe driven by thegasolen'eengine of an automobile through an intermediate clutch not.shown.. Likew se, the head 18 may connect with the differential gear mechanism: cm .the secondary shaft or the rear shaft of the automobile for driving.

the rear wheels. The entire shaft 15- 16 will thus, constitute a flexible driving, shaft between an engine driven member mounted on the chassis on the one hand, and the differential gear mechanism mounted on the secondary shaft or the rear axle shaft on the other hand.

The collar 20 fastened on the end of the shaft 15, by the key 21, has jaws 2st which lock with corresponding alternating jaws 25 projecting from the collar 22, fastened on the shaft 16 by the key 23. These alternatlng jaws 2 1 and 25, carried by the respective shafts 15 and 16, do not fit closely together, but permit the rotation of one shaft relatively to the other, about 24 in either direction. This angular displacement is in dicated on Fig. 3 by the space between the dotted line 25 and the solid line to the right thereof, which indicates the edge of the jaw2i.

The collar 22,- already mentioned, which is keyed on the shaft 16, has a projecting part extending clear around and sharply notched soas to make a circumferential. series of teeth 27. Another collar 26 is fastened by the key 31 on the shaft 15, and this has a similarly notched periphery 27.

A circumferential series of round steel rods 28 have their ends lying in respective corresponding notches of the two collars 22 and 26. The ends ofthese rods 28 are formed as triangular prisms so that they fit closely into'the' notches of the collars 22 and 26. Surrounding the ends of the rods 28 are split rings 29, the slight opening between the ends beingindicated at 29 onFigs. 2, 3 and 4. Of these split rings 29, each has a taper on its external surface with screwthreads cutin this surface. Outside of'each taperedscrew-threaded split ring 29 is a heavy solid ring'30, internally tapered and screw-threaded to fit over and engage the corresponding ring 29.

Solid shafts can readily be out across-as at the point19---and equipped with my iniproved yielding connection. In any case, after the collars 22 and 26 have been fixed on the respective alining shafts 15 and 16 and the rods 28 put in placein the notches on those two collars, then thesplit rings 29 can be placed over the ends-of the rods 28 and the outer solid rings 30 screwed upon those skilled in the art to which them. This will clamp the rods 28 very tightly in the notches between the teeth 27. A torque applied to theshaft 15 will be distributed and transmitted through all the rods 28 to the shaft 16. The greater this torque, the greater will .be the angle by which the shaft 15 will lead the shaft 16.

A positive limit to the displacement is afforded by the interlocking jaws 2a and 25.

It will be observed that the device is equally effective to transmit power by means of a torque in either direction. As applied to an automobile, it will be seen that it is tion relates.

.I claim:

1. A flexible power-transmitting device for transmitting rotary motion comprising twoshafts in alinement, collars on the respective shafts, elastic rods, each having its ends engaging the respective collars,'and means surrounding the ends of the rodsarranged to clamp them tightly to said'collars.

2. A flexible powentransmitting device comprising two shafts in alinement, notched collars on the respective shafts, elastic rods each aving its ends lying incorresponding notches of the two collars, split ringssurrounding the ends of said rods, and solid rings outside the split rings engaging the same by tapered threads. V

3. A. flexible power-transmitting device comprising two shafts in alinement, notched collars on the respective shafts, elastic metallic rods each having its ends lying in corresponding notches of the two collars, and clamping means surrounding said collars and the ends of said rods and adapted to clamp them tightly-to said collars.

4. A flexible power-transmitting device comprising two shafts in alinement, sleeves keyed on the adjacent ends of said said sleeves having alternate interlocking jaws spaced apart so as to permit limited angular displacement of one shaft relatively to the other, collars keyed on Said shafts beyond the sleeves, elastic yielding rods havingtheir ends adjacentto said collars, and clamping means to secure the ends or due to the driving the invensurrounding the ends of rods to the respective collars clamping shafts,

erles of the two collars, adjustable clamping means surrounding the ends of said rods,

elastic rods, each i and interlocking means mounted on the ends. i

of the two shafts adapted to permit limited angular displacement of one shaft relatively to the other but positively limit such angu lar displacements 7 i 6. A flexible power-transmitting device comprising two shafts in alinement,notched collars on the respective shafts, elastic rods each having its ends lying in corresponding notches ofthe twocollars, split rings sur rounding the ends of said 7 outside the split rings engaging the same by tapered threads, and a jaw clutch having itsrespective members mounted on .the adj aterlocking, said jaws being spaced apart so as to permit of one shaft'relatively to the'other.

7. A flexible power-transmitting device a limited angular displacement rods, solid rings:

'85 cent ends of the two shafts with its jaws incomprising two shafts in alinement, notched collars on the respective shafts, elastic rods each having its endslying incorresponding notches of the two collars, and clamping means comprising ascrew threaded member said rods and ]adapted to clamp them tig tly to 'said colars.

8. A flexible power-transmitting device comprising two shafts ali'nement, sleeves keyed on the adjacent ends of said;shafts,-

said sleeves having alternate interlocking jaws spaced apart so as to permit limited angular displacement of one shaft 7 to the other, notched'collars havingnotches therein keyed on said shafts beyond the sleeves, elastic yielding rods having their ends shaped to fit the notches of said collars, and means to gagementtherewith, a V

9. A flexible power transmitting device comprising two shafts in alinement, notched collars on the respective shafts, elastic metallic rods each having its ends lying in corresponding notches 10. A flexible power transmitting device comprising two shafts in' alinement, notched relatively clamp the ends of'said in rigid enofthe two collars, and, means comprising an integral 7 ring surrounding the ends of: said, i

collarson'the respective shafts, elastic rods 7 each having its ends lying in corresponding notches ofthe two collars, and '7 clamping means 'COIIIPIISIDg a screw clampmg ring surrounding the ends of said rods and havsaid rods in rigid engagement with said coling an internal tapered thread. lars.

11. A flexible power transmitting device In testimony whereof, I have subscribed for transmitting rotary motion comprising my name. 5 tWo alining shafts, collars on the respective shafts, elastic metallic rods each having its WVitnesses:

JOHN O. HOBBS.

ends engaging the respective collars, and HENRY A. PARKS, achustable means for securing the ends of ANNA L. WALTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). G. 

